Angels' late bloomer Natera Jr. starting to flip script in Fall League

MESA, Ariz. -- Angels left-handed pitching prospect Samy Natera Jr. understood why doubters said the things they said, but he made it his mission to prove them wrong. He may be at the early stages of a breakthrough that will silence them permanently.

Natera didn’t even start pitching until he was 17, converting from first base (and from playing basketball as his main sport) at the Lydia Patterson Institute in El Paso, Texas. He moved on to play baseball at New Mexico State very late, so for years his potential has outpaced his performance.

“I remember seeing a newspaper thing and it was like, ‘He’s very green,’” he said. “I agreed with that, but at the same time, it bothered me. I was like, ‘OK, I’m gonna show you I can grow.’ And that’s what I’ve been trying to do.”

It didn’t happen overnight, but the 25-year-old has been on an impressive run over the past few months and his results have been catching up to the potential.

Making his fourth start of the Arizona Fall League on Monday, Natera gave up his first runs of the campaign in Mesa’s 11-3 loss to Surprise at Sloan Park, but the box score wasn’t really a reflection of his stuff.

The southpaw struck out two in a scoreless first inning. He got his third strikeout to begin the second inning before Milan Tolentino (CLE) dropped a double in front of left fielder Tre’ Morgan (TB No. 10), who got a bad read thanks to the early-game sun. It was only the second hit Natera had given up in his first 8 1/3 Fall League innings.

The next batter, Douglas Hodo III (BAL), dropped in a single in nearly the same spot after Morgan slipped on the turf out of his break. Tolentino scored and Hodo busted for second when the relay throw went home. Catcher Moises Ballesteros (CHC No. 4/MLB No. 44) tried to nab Hodo at second but the throw went into center. Hodo raced home on the error for a wild Little League-style homer.

What could have easily been a 1-2-3 inning ended up costing him two runs (one earned) on three hits, but Natera didn’t let it discourage him.

“At the end of the day, it’s baseball,” he said. “That can happen. It’s a little frustrating, but it happens.”

Natera wrapped up his day with a scoreless third, striking out five for the game and walking away with a 0.90 ERA that stands second in the Fall League. (Rangers No. 25 prospect Josh Stephan sports an 0.54.)

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This successful stint comes on the heels of Natera going 2-0 with a 0.60 ERA in five games for High-A Tri-City after finally returning from a sprained elbow ligament sustained during Spring Training.

“Had a pretty short season, got 15 innings at High-A and then came here and was just ready to compete,” Natera said. “I love competing, and when I saw all the big names, big prospects, I was like, ‘OK. Let’s go. Let’s compete.’”

It’s admittedly a small sample, but impressive nonetheless … and it has been a long time coming.

The Angels took a flier on Natera out of New Mexico State in the 17th round of the 2022 MLB Draft. He had an injured left shoulder, he’d only been pitching for four years and his career ERA for the Aggies was 6.69 over 79 1/3 innings, but his fastball played (115 K’s) and they saw something.

“I feel like I’ve always been described as a ‘potential’ guy, so [the Angels] bet on that potential, the big frame,” he said. “I was way skinnier, so there was a lot of room to grow.”

Natera spent his Draft year rehabbing the shoulder, and he showed up at Spring Training 2023 determined to make every start. He put together a respectable debut season, posting a 4.20 ERA over 20 starts for Tri-City.

Then in Spring Training this year, an elbow injury derailed his progress. But the news wasn't all bad, as Natera learned a lot about himself during his seven weeks of being shut down followed by seven weeks of rehab.

“When I was hurt, I focused on getting stress off my arm, worked on my mechanics a lot,” he said. “I feel like that’s helping a lot. I feel like I’ve been consciously aggressive, knowing what I’m doing and how I’m doing it and knowing my body better.”

The results since returning to action Aug. 16 speak volumes, and Natera was happy to have the Fall League opportunity after finishing on such a high note at Tri-City.

“I felt like I was just getting started,” he said. “That’s why coming here was great for me, just to be able to keep going and build off that. It’s pretty good hitters that I’ve been facing, so I feel like that shows that I’m ready to compete.”